Talks between the Telangana Employees Joint Action Committee (TEJAC) and the Group of Ministers held here on Wednesday to persuade the employees to withdraw their 30-day-old strike failed as the former insisted on creating a conducive environment first for any discussion.

They wanted withdrawal of the Essential Services Maintenance Act, scrapping of GO 177 laying down the ‘no-work no-pay' principle, and lifting of cases registered against employees.

After a 40-minute-long meeting, TEJAC chairman K. Swamy Goud and other leaders said they had submitted a representation on their three demands, which included an inquiry into the attack on Mr. Goud and action against police officers concerned.

Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayan Reddy told media persons later that the Cabinet sub-committee would discuss the demands with other Ministers and take them for Chief Minister's consideration.

“We hope to get back to the employees JAC soon,” he said.

Mr. Reddy explained that GO 177 was being implemented in tune with the High Court's direction and any decision relating to it had to be taken to the court's notice. The GoM, while pointing out that the Centre had started deliberations to resolve the Telangana issue, urged the employees to call off their strike and avoid further hardship to the common people and students.

The Minister said the JAC did not give any assurance to suspend their stir if the government conceded their demands. Talking to presspersons, Mr. Goud said they were ready for talks if the government gave a written assurance on the demands raised by them.

He also wanted the Prime Minister's intervention for laying out a roadmap for Telangana.

Criminal cases

He pointed out that a day before the talks, criminal cases were registered against the employees' leaders in Begum Bazar police station on Tuesday. There were also reports that dismissal of union leaders from service was being contemplated though Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha had denied any such move, he added.

Refusing to accept the government's stand that Telangana issue was not under the purview of State, he recalled how it had pursued the Centre to abolish 14(f) clause of Presidential Order.

Slideshow

Workers carryingout repairs to Visakhapatnam District Collector's Office, as it was damaged in Cyclone Hudhud in 2014 October. The majestic heritage building was designed and built by Dutch engineering company Gannon Dunkerly in 1865 and completed by 1914. Photos: C.V. Subrahmanyam